TIME TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM

I am doing quite well with my Paleo eating, but a little summer fun and some socializing with friends, and it's easy to fall back into bad habits.  It's a dangerous thing, not having goals.  I think I have avoided restricting my results to a time-line because I have a deep seeded fear that quick weight loss means temporary weight-loss.  I understand that statistically there is little evidence to defend this notion, but I lost a boatload of weight before, rather quickly, and then gained it all back just as fast as I'd lost it.  Now I have this connective way of thinking that says, "the quicker you lose it, the faster you will gain it back!"  I consider this to be one lesson I learned the hard way.  While there is some truth to that for me, I may have carried it too far.  Now my weight-loss has no sense of urgency.  At the same time, I fear not meeting a set goal will catapult me into giving up.  I want to steer clear of the "what's the point- I can't really do this!" mindset which takes me off course even sooner than a lack of goals.

I haven't discussed what my overall goals are; merely mentioning things like being stronger, healthier, and getting off insulin medication.  But how strong?  How healthy?  How much weight?  And by when??  I haven't shared this with you because I haven't the answer.  I never believed in picking a goal weight, more a goal range, because anyone who has lost a large amount of weight will tell you it is often your body that decides this and not you.  I also don't see the point in setting a goal that upon reaching I may want to exceed.  But of course, these are excuses.  There is no worse plan than having no targets at all, and letting your already warped sense of weight management guide you to your fate.

I will be taking a look at the calendar tonight and drawing up some potential milestones.  I need to learn a happy medium- the thing I struggle with the most.  I need to push myself to meet some goals, yet be relaxed and patient enough not to achieve them artificially (dehydration, starvation, excessive cardio).  If seeing is believing, then my recent surveillance tape is proof positive that twenty-five pounds is no reason to take a sigh of relief when it comes to the seriousness of my condition.  All the on-line weight-loss forums have a big emphasis on goals.  I guess I need to get with the program.

"The difference between a dream and a goal is a time line." -Dr. Phil